Financial Matters

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Financial Matters

Keeping appropriate financial records and being transparent about the way our organization obtains and spends funds is important to getting and keeping members’ and supporters’ trust and confidence in the Hearing Loss Association of America.

HLAA headquarters, for example, posts its audited financial statements and completed 990 form on our website. As part of the same organization, HLAA State organizations and Chapters would operate in the same careful, transparent and responsible manner.

In addition, HLAA recommends that each state organization and chapter seek IRS tax-exempt status either under the HLAA group exemption or get it independently for the state organization or chapter. This status is necessary for members/donors to deduct their contributions or donations from their federal and/or state income tax returns. See the text below for more information.

Applying for exemption from federal income tax under IRS code 501(c)(3)
Does the state organization or chapter charge membership or subscription fees/dues, collect contributions, or raise Walk4Hearing funds? If the answer is “yes,” the organization must apply for and maintain exemption from federal income tax under IRS tax code 501(c) (3).

HLAA State Offices and Chapters may apply for recognition as tax exempt using one of these options:

File Form 1023 directly with the IRS (the most lengthy and costly option). Note: HLAA Chapters that are incorporated and all state associations must file form 1023 directly with the IRS. See www.irs.gov for information about the 1023 filing process.

Request inclusion in the HLAA “group” exemption (the simplest and no-cost option which HLAA recommends, described below); or forgoing a formal request to be recognized as tax exempt (if the organization meets certain requirements outlined here.)

To apply for federal income tax exemption through HLAA (also known as “group exemption”), complete the steps below:

Request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. (An EIN is like a Social Security number for the organization.) Click here for directions.

Send the EIN confirmation letter from the IRS (see here for an example) and the completed documents listed above to the HLAA State and Chapter Coordinator by email, fax (301.913.9413) or mail (HLAA, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1200, Bethesda MD 20814).

Maintaining exemption from federal income tax under IRS code 501(c)(3)
Every year after gaining recognition as exempt from federal income tax, all HLAA Chapters and State organizations must file an IRS 990 form. Most small tax-exempt organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less ($25,000 for tax years ending after December 31, 2007 and before December 31, 2010) are required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard, unless they choose to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ instead. Click here for more information about IRS form 990.

The e-Postcard is due every year by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the organization’s tax year. For example, if the state organization’s or chapter’s tax year ended on December 31, the e-Postcard is due May 15 of the following year. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is the next business day. The organization cannot file the e-Postcard until after its tax year ends.

If you do not file your e-Postcard on time, the IRS will send you a reminder notice. There is no penalty assessment for filing the e-Postcard late, but organizations that fail to file the required e-Postcards (or information returns – Forms 990 or 990-EZ) for three consecutive years will automatically lose their tax-exempt status. The revocation of the organization’s tax-exempt status will not take place until the filing due date of the third year. It may also take 12 months or more for the IRS to inform you that the state office’s or chapter’s tax-exempt status has been revoked.

Revocation means that the contributors’ donations are not deductible on their income tax returns. This includes Walk4Hearing contributions.

The IRS has revoked the tax-exempt status of more than a dozen HLAA Chapters since 2010. To regain the exemption, each chapter must fill out a lengthy form (IRS form 1023), collect and attach numerous documents, and pay $400 - $800. Save the state organization or chapter from this hassle – file the 990 each year on time and save a printed copy of the acknowledgement of the filing from the IRS.

HLAA Requirements
In order to maintain tax exempt status via HLAA, each state office and chapter must submit each year a budget and a completed Chapter/State Update form to the HLAA State and Chapter Coordinator by October 1. Failure to submit these forms on time will result in HLAA not including the organization in the renewal application for federal income tax exemption.

Caution: No person or entity may “borrow” the chapter’s or state organization’s 501c3 standing. Contact the HLAA State and Chapter Coordinator with any questions or concerns about this topic.

State Requirements

According to a recent 2016 publication distributed in a 2016 Guidestar newsletter, 41 states now require charitable solicitation registration. Solicitations made by phone, direct mail, in person, by email, or online may subject a charity to registration requirements. In addition, solicitations through professional solicitors, fundraising consultants, and commercial co-ventures trigger registration requirements.

Almost every state requires charities to register before they begin soliciting, regardless of whether any donations are received. California allows charities to begin soliciting before registering. Charities have 30 days to register in California after the date that assets are first received. In most states, the government agency managing registration is the Charities Division of the Office of the Attorney General or the Secretary of State.

Charitable registrations must be renewed on an annual basis in every state except Georgia and the District of Columbia. Georgia and D.C. currently renew on a biennial basis. Renewal due dates are usually set based on the organization’s fiscal year end or on the anniversary of registration.

Each state requires renewal applications to be submitted at different times throughout the year. Keeping track of varied due dates is one of the major challenges of charitable solicitation compliance.

Budgets

Each HLAA Chapter and State organization needs a budget. It can be a simple, one-page document showing projected income and expenses like this example State offices and chapters that are part of the HLAA group exemption from federal income tax (501(c) (3)) must submit a copy of their budget each year by October 1.

Treasurer’s Duties

See the description of the treasurer’s duties and a treasurer checklist here.

Funding the Organization

Every Chapter needs money to cover its basic necessities. Careful budgeting, growing the paid membership base, and managing the chapter expenses is an important first step. There are myriad resources to help the organization save money and gain revenue. For a list of ideas, see Income Ideas for State Orgs and Chapters.

A growing and vital chapter can never collect enough dues to support its mission however. At some point it is going to need to raise funds in addition to membership dues. When done correctly, fundraising activity can raise friends for your chapter in addition to raising funds.

Identify your chapter’s projected financial needs for the year
To fundraise effectively, your chapter needs a fundraising plan. Here are the steps:

What does your chapter need to hold meetings and exist as a chapter?

What does your chapter need to deliver dynamic education, information, advocacy, and support programming that attracts people with hearing loss?

The HLAA Director of Chapter Development will be happy to assist your chapter in developing a plan to fund its needs. For assistance please reach out to Chapters@hearingloss.org

Receipts for Dues, Newsletters, Advertisements, Donations, etc.

While it is good business practice to acknowledge each and every donation made to your organization, the IRS requires written substantiation from the recipient to the donor of any single donation of $250 and above (not in aggregate). All acknowledgements, regardless of amount, should also state whether any goods and/or services were exchanged, in whole or in part, for the donation. If any goods and/or services were exchanged, the acknowledgement must specify a reasonable market value for those items.

Completing an IRS W-9 Form

Companies wishing to donate to the chapter or state organization may request that you complete a W-9 form. This is a standard business practice so do not be alarmed if you receive such a request. Please click here to learn more about the form. The Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) would be the state organization’s or chapter’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Opening a Bank Account for the State Organization or Chapter

HLAA recommends that chapters and state organizations have a checking account in their own name. Click here to read the steps.